Israeli and Palestinian lawmakers traded barbs Sunday at the 139th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.
The IPU is an international organization comprising 176 countries and entities that seeks to foster dialogue between members of various legislating bodies.
The Israeli delegation included MK Nachman Shai (Zionist Union) and MK Sharren Haskel (Likud).
The Palestinian delegation included legislator Azzam al-Ahmad.
During a meeting of the subcommittee on Middle East Questions, al-Ahmad said that "Israel was a racist state and has apartheid laws," and vowed that the Palestinians would continue their fight against the Jewish state "even if only one single child is left to fight for his rights."
Al-Ahmad went on to say that "if needed, the struggle will go on for many years."
Shai shot back, saying: "You support terrorism and fund it; and as usual, you never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. You have refused to even listen to what the Americans have suggested."
Shai stressed: "Jerusalem is Israel's capital, period." Haskel took aim at the UNRWA, accusing it of perpetuating the conflict by not distancing itself from Hamas and letting descendants of refugees apply for assistance. "We must make all funding to UNRWA be contingent on revising the definition of what a refugee is and on ending Palestinian incitement," Haskel said.
